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It's time for That's Racin's preseason rankings of the top teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. These rankings reflect our opinion about how these teams stack up in relation to one another as the 2008 season begins. They are ranked on the basis of team performance and potential:

1. Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48): A lot has changed but one thing hasn't. This is the team the rest of the field is chasing. The fact that a bid for a third straight title isn't the biggest preseason story is good news for them, too. Final 2007 ranking: 1.

2. Jeff Gordon (car No. 24): Gordon didn't win the '07 title and said he learned consistency might not be enough any more. If he comes close his total of 30 top-10 finishes, though, don't bet against him. Final 2007 ranking: 2.

3. Carl Edwards (car No. 99): It was hard to decide who to put third on this list. Edwards gets it because among the top-tier teams in the mix his seems to have the fewest changes entering the new season. Final 2007 ranking: 8.

4. Matt Kenseth (car No. 17): New crew chief Chip Bolin has been part of this team for a long time and former crew chief Robbie Reiser is still just down the hall. There's no reason this team won't remain consistently excellent. Final 2007 ranking: 3.

5. Tony Stewart (car No. 20): It really surprised us - and really disappointed him - that Stewart and his team didn't put up more resistance to the Hendrick Motorsports romp through last year's Chase. Final 2007 ranking: 6.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (car No. 88): Our bottom line on this is that we don't think team owner Rick Hendrick will let Earnhardt Jr. fail. Final 2007 ranking: 15.

7. Kyle Busch (car No. 18): Can he top Earnhardt Jr., who basically took his Hendrick ride? It's why we watch. Final 2007 ranking: 22.

8. Kurt Busch (car No. 2): If Dodge enjoys significant improvement in 2008 this team is our choice to lead it. Final 2007 ranking: 9.

9. Denny Hamlin (car No. 11): As with Hendrick Motorsports, the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will flourish through in-house competition. Final 2007 ranking: 12.

10. Kevin Harvick (car No. 29): Richard Childress Racing needs more performance from the Car of Tomorrow to truly contend. Final 2007 ranking: 7.

11. Casey Mears (car No. 5): This team, with Kyle Busch driving, made the '07 Chase. It can do it with Mears, too. Final 2007 ranking: 5.

12. Ryan Newman (car No. 12): Two Dodges, two Fords and two Toyotas in the Chase would at least make Chevy work a little bit. Final 2007 ranking: 13.

13. Clint Bowyer (car No. 07): Great things are possible for this team. But sliding a half-step back is possible, too. Final 2007 ranking: 4.

14. Jeff Burton (car No. 31): We see gains for Hendrick, Gibbs and Penske teams coming largely at the expense of RCR. Final 2007 ranking: 10.

15. Martin Truex Jr. (car No. 1): It's not that we doubt Truex. We fear Dale Earnhardt Inc. is in for a rebuilding year. Final 2007 ranking: 11.

16. Greg Biffle (car No. 16): If we miss on this team, it'll be that we've got them too low. Lots of upside potential. Final 2007 ranking: 14.

17. Juan Pablo Montoya (car No. 42): Another guy who could make us look really bad if he keeps improving at his '07 rate. Final 2007 ranking: 17.

18. Kasey Kahne (car No. 9): Was '07 a nightmarish aberration? It was bad enough that we have to see it to believe it. Final 2007 ranking: 21.

19. Mark Martin/Aric Alimirola (car No. 8): An interesting thought: Might the No. 8 car with Martin win before the No. 88 does? Final 2007 ranking: 16.

20. Jamie McMurray (car No. 26): McMurray did win once last season, but the breakout season we keep expecting just hasn't come. Final 2007 ranking: 19.

21. Reed Sorenson (car No. 41): If Ganassi cars improve so that ex-Indy 500 winners excel, Sorensen might benefit most. Final 2007 ranking: 23.

22. Bobby Labonte (car No. 43): If Petty teams had moved operations into Hendrick Motorsport's shop you might have something. Final 2007 ranking: 18.

23. David Ragan (car No. 6): To comply with NASCAR's rules Roush Fenway Racing has to eliminate a team in 2009 and the sponsor of this team is leaving after this season. That's what you call pressure. Final 2007 ranking: 24.

24. Dave Blaney (car No. 22): Toyota needs to show improvement somewhere other than with the new Gibbs teams. Final 2007 ranking: 34.

25. Dario Franchitti (car No. 40): Keep in mind Franchitti arrives with more oval-track experience than Montoya had. Final 2007 ranking: 26.

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